Shock-absorber.



R. R. WALKER.

SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-31. 1914.

1,150,564. Patehted Aug. 17, 1915.

1 1. w 4 I TIT-L1 H! Y; I /0 i a M WI T NESSES RAYMOND R. WALKER, 0F FOLLANSBEE, WEST VIRGINIA.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rin iv, 1915,

Application filed December 31, 1914. Serial No. 879,844.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RAYMOND R. WALKER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Follansbee, county of Brooke, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improve-- ments in Shock-Absorbers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shock absorbers, and pertains more particularly to improvements in the shock absorber for automobiles, and similar vehicles shown and described in my Patent N 0. 1,106,014, of August 4, 1914.

The primary improvement contemplated by the present invention over the aforementioned patent is the provision of means whereby possibility of the plunger or piston becoming disengaged from its cylinder is positively overcome and further to increase the shock absorbing property of the device by increase of the area of air compression, the latter more specifically involving the presence of three air chambers, as distinguished from two in the prior patent.

Further and other objects will be particularized and manifested in the course of the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view.

The invention involves a pair of telescopic cylinders 1 and 2, each closed at its outer end, the closed end of cylinder '1 being connected by a ball and socket joint 3 to the vehicle body, while the cylinder 2 is connected to the axle by a coupling 4, or may be optionally connected to the vehicle spring.

Rigidly secured to the closed end 5 of cylinder 2 is the stem 6 of a piston 7 the latter having a sliding fit within the cylinder 1 and also in the plug 8 which forms a bottom for the cylinder 1. The plug 8,.Which is provided with a stufling box 9 through which stem 6 slides, acts as means for positively limiting or restricting the extent of extensible movement relatively between the two cylinders 1 and 2, thus preventing any possible disengagement between the cylinders regardless of the severity of any shock which the vehicle may be subjectedto.

Cylinder 1 is proyided at its upper end with an inlet valve 10 of the check'type and an outlet valve 11, which latter may be in communication with a reservoir for the storage of air compressed by the movement of the parts. The stem 6 of the piston 7 is provided with a passage 12 which opens into cylinder 1 between the piston 7 and the bot tom of that cylinder and which extends through the lower end of the stem below the bottom 5 of cylinder 2 and has an outlet valve 12 communicating therewith, the valve 12 being secured to stem 6.

Valves 11 and 12 are of the check type and in which the valves proper are slidable and positively maintained seated by adjustable springs 13 as illustrated in connection with valve 12. An inlet ball check valve 14 at the base of cylinder 2 affords means for admitting air to the latter, while a valve 15 of the spring check type controls a port 16 which is formed in the plug 8.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that three air chambers A, B and C are provided, the piston 7 dividing cylinder 1 into two chambers A and B while the third chamber G is. formed by the space between the bottoms of the two cylinders l and 2. Assuming extensible movement between cylinders 1 and 2, following subjection of the vehicle to a shock, air will be compressed in chamber B, and entering the passage 12 will egress through outlet valve 12 and at the same time a partial vacuum will be formed in chambers A and C. Upon relative initial contractile movement of the cylinders air will be compressed in chambers A and C, and a partial vacuum formed in B, the air compressed in chamber C subsequently unseating valve 15 and passing through port 16 enters chamber B. The three chambers aforementioned thus cooperate to effectively prevent sudden action between the parts and enable gradual relative movement between the axle, and body which minimizes shocks and jars. As is obvious, the inlet valves 10 and 14, or either of them, may be dispensed with, in which case extensible movement will create vacuums in the chambers A and C, thus preventing violent rebounds due to the action of the vehicle springs after the latter have been compressed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shock absorber, a pair of telescopic cylinders having closed outer ends and check-valve controlled air inlet ports at each of said ends, the lower end of the upper cylinder having a closed bottom, a piston in the upper cylinder having a stem which is rigidly connected to and extends through the closed outer end of the lower cylinder, said stem having a passage which leads into the upper cylinder below the piston and beyond the closed end of the lower cylinder, a check valve carried by the lower end of the said stem and controlling the passage of air-therethrough, a check valve controlled port in the bottom of the upper cylinder, and a check valve controlled outlet port at the upper end of the upper cylinder.

2. In a shock absorber, a pair of telescopic cylinders the lower end of the inner of which is closed and formed with a port, means for admitting air to and exhausting same from the inner cylinder, and a piston rigidly connected to the outer cylinder and disposed in the inner cylinder, and means whereby air compressed between the lower end of the inner cylinder and the piston is conducted through and from the outer cylinder.

3. In a shock absorber, a pair of telescopic cylinders the inner of which has a closed bottom, a piston slidable within the inner cylinder whereby the extent of relative extensible movement between the cylinders is restricted by engagement with the bottom of the inner cylinder, and a stem rigidly connected at one end to said piston and at its other end to the closed end of the outer cylinder, said stem having a valve-controlled passage therethrough providing for the exhaust of air from a point between the piston and the closed bottom of the inner cylinder.

4. In a shock absorber, a pair of hollow telescopic elements, one of which has a closed bottom to separate its interior from the interior of the other element, and means borne by the other element and extending into the first element to divide the latter into two chambers, said means including a stem having a passage therethrough through which air may be exhausted from the inner of said cylinders to the atmosphere.

5. In a shock absorber, a pair of hollow telescopic elements one of which has a closed bottom to separate its interior from the interior of the other element, a piston disposed in the first element to divide the latter into two chambers, and a stem extending through the closed bottom of said element and rigidly connecting said piston to said other element, said stem having a valveclosed exhaust passage therethrough whereby air from the inner of said chambers is permitted to escape.

6. In a shock absorber comprising a cylinder having its lower end adapted for mounting upon a vehicle axle and having an open upper end, means admitting air to and from said cylinder, a plunger operating within said cylinder, said plunger being hollow, an exhaust check-valve in the upper end of said plunger, a piston concentrically disposed within and in fixed relation to said cylinder and operating within the hollow of said plunger whereby a partial vacuum is formed upon Withdrawal movement of said piston, means for connecting said plunger to a Vehicle body, and means to limit the extent of outward movement between the cylinder and plunger.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RAYMOND R. WALKER. Witnesses:

R. L. RAMSAY, J. W. THOMAS. 

